blog team
ABOUT FOUND BY JAMES
Hi, my name is James and I travel the world.
I feel privileged to regularly meet interesting people on my journeys.
These encounters are a great source of inspiration and it makes my visits extra special when locals personally show me the hidden gems of their town.
Most importantly: I find things. And, whenever possible, I take a few pieces with me. As I prefer to travel light, I always try to keep it limited.
On my website Found by James I share my collection of personal treasures with others.
I invite you to browse the shop and my notes/blog to get a taste of my love for art and design.
Lex Pott Found by James video online!
In this video, I venture out to the industrial NDSM-Werf in Amsterdam to spend a day with Dutch designer Lex Pott at his studio, where we give you a special preview of the inspiration and process behind True Colours Miniatures.
If you want to know more about Lex Pott, his vision on design and his inspirations, read the interview I had with him last month.
Interview with Mr. Hare, shoe designer
Marc Hare makes beautiful shoes and I love the way he presents his brand; in a personal way, openly communicating his inspirations and the context of his work. Unfortunately I don’t see that very often. Mr. Hare, the brand, is available throughout the world at respectable stockists like Oki-Ni, Dover Street Market, Liberty, Colette, Mr. Porter and Luis Via Roma. Get to know Mr. Hare, the person, even better through the interview I’ve had with him.
Louis Vuitton Bag Charms
For the release of Louis Vuitton’s new elegant Hot Air Balloon Bag Charm, Part of a Bigger Plan has created and produced a short animation to be shown on Louis Vuitton’s new web platform, New Now. The film follows the little collectable Bag Charm on an adventurous journey. A miniature version of the monogram trunk is suspended from the hot air balloon. The balloon is seen wandering through an unknown and ancient world in search of its home. Watch the video at Louis Vuitton’s New Now web platform.
Berlin Hipsters
This week quite some fashion folks will be in Berlin for the Bread & Butter fair. Mind the Berlin hipsters!
The Travel Almanac #2
The Travel Almanac is a unique travel publication based on the perspective of a growing international community of artists, musicians and business people who frequently travel and live abroad, creating their own stories within the bigger plots of other cultures. In The Travel Almanac they explore the effect of their cosmopolitan lifestyle on their lives and what they learn along the way.
The second edition of The Travel Almanac, this time subtly geographically focussed on the USA, yet again amazed me with its broad array of featured interviews – ranging from supermodel Alek Wek to fashion designer Helmut Lang and songwriter/actor Will Oldham.
Also featured is an interview with German fashion designer Bernhard Willhelm. Reading this article I was reminded of the documentary Loïc Prigent made about Mark Jacobs and Louis Vuitton, in which Mark Jacobs reflects on his nomadic life. I loved seeing how Jacobs, forced to live with a minimum of personal belongings due to all his travels, values only the art objects he possesses (especially his favourite ones by Ed Ruscha).
The charming little interview with Bernhard Willhelm describes a similar nomadic life; Willhelm worked on a collection at an hideout in Mexico, and will move his whole team to Japan for the next one. Willhelm, refreshingly, describes a very positive side of international living. As opposed to being rushed around like Jacobs sometimes seemed to be, he savours being able to move his office around the globe – and by immersing himself in new surroundings, he is able to create things he couldn’t have made at ‘home’.
You can order The Travel Almanac #2 here.
Rop van Mierlo’s Housecat poster up for sale
A dear friend of mine, illustrator Rop van Mierlo, has created a marvelous poster (A1 portrait) especially for Found by James. Rop brought me a Housecat, wonderfully illustrated and with a lovely twist, also teasing me because I am never at home.
I offer a very limited run of only 9 numbered prints, referring to the 9 lives of a cat. Each piece is printed on high quality paper (Giclée print on German Etching 310 gsm paper), uniquely numbered and signed by the artist.
You can order the poster HERE
Teaser Rop van Mierlo poster
The talented illustrator Rop van Mierlo has been nominated for this years prestigious Dutch Design Awards with his work Wild Animals. This book with vivid illustrations is currently available all over the globe and internationally design lovers have embraced his illustrations with great enthusiasm.
Prior to the elections of the award Rop has created a truly marvelous poster exclusively for my website. On FOUNDBYJAMES.com I will offer a very limited run of only 9 numbered prints. This poster is Rop’s only work in between his first (nominated) book and his promising upcoming second. As of the 17th of October, 2011 right before the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, the poster will be for sale. Stay updated via Facebook and Twitter
Read my interview with Mr. Rop van Mierlo about the things that inspire him, his thoughts about the DDA 2011 nomination, his future plans and his dreams.
For press inquiries please contact press@foundbyjames.com
The Burning House
‘If your house was burning, what would you take with you?’ With this simple question Mr. Foster Huntington, designer at Ralph Lauren, presents his latest solo project The Burning House.
His introduction continues with the words: ‘It’s a conflict between what’s practical, valuable and sentimental. What you would take reflects your interests, background and priorities. Think of it as an interview condensed into one question.’
Since its launch last April, I visit this great initiative almost daily. Next to the unique concept, the variety of contributors makes this website very interesting. Every day new posts from all over the world are displayed.
The majority of the submissions is from creative people like photographers, musicians and designers, but I have also found nice collections from engineers, bankers & lawyers.
Mr. Foster created a source of inspiration and a good reason ponder about which possessions really matters to you.
On the above image Mr. Foster’s own entry.
Regards,
